Chapter 12 – One world accepts the other denies
Our embrace doesn't last long. We are interrupted by a familiar male voice.
"Hermione...?"
I turn around after seeing her horrified face. Weasely stands in the door way. His face at first appears to be simply shock and horror but then it contorts into anger and hatred.
"Get away from her, you Ferret!" He yells marching into the room wand raised. The situation is reminiscent of our almost duel in our second year at Hogwarts. Of course his wand had been broken and he had struck himself with his own slug spell.
"Ron, wait." Harry puts his hand out to stop him. "Let them explain."
"Explain? The bloody moron had his hands all over Hermione and you want me to wait for an explanation?" He shouted. His wand about 30 cm away from us.
"Weasely put that thing away; you don't want to end up eating slugs again." I say. It isn't supposed to be an insult, but from Hermione's reaction I guess that's how it appears.
"Draco, you are not helping the situation." She scolds me.
She's so cute when she does that. I swoop in and give her another kiss. This causes Weasely to have a complete melt down and he roars with anger, while making another attempt to lunge at me. Thankfully Harry steps in the way and holds him back.
"Ron listen to me, you need to calm down." He says, struggling to hold a still fighting Ron.
"I'll listen after I smash his bloody face in." Ron yells. Suddenly a large almost plastic bubble is thrown at Ron and he becomes trapped in it.
Ginny stands behind him panting a little. "He never could take directions." She puffs out.
"Let me out!" He thumps on the walls of the bubble but this doesn't achieve anything.
"Ronald, I love Draco." Hermione says. "We are engaged and although I know you will take a while to accept this, please trust my judgement." She has tears in her eyes as she touched the bubble.
"Hermione, he was a death eater, he watched you get tortured, he called you a mudblood." Ron says in disbelief.
"I know, and he's apologised for that. But Ron you have to try and understand; I love him. It doesn't matter to me that, I can't touch his left wrist because of his mark, or that he has a son. I love him and unfortunately I always have." She reveals. I take her hand. This is hard for her and I want her to know that I am here for her.
"Always? Even when you and I were married?" Ron asked sadly.
"Yes and no. I did love you, but as a brother. I felt so much pressure to marry you. That kiss in the chamber, was excitement. I was excited about destroying the horcrux. It felt right to kiss you then." She tells him. She looks sad but relieved to finally tell him.
"I understand." Weasely says after a few moments of silence.
Hermione had her head down, but it shot up after he said that. "You do?"
"I felt the same. When I was with you I was wishing I was with someone else. I understand the pressure you mentioned. If it wasn't from the papers it was from my mother." He says annoyance tainting his words.
Hermione let out a giggle. "Molly wasn't that bad."
"You missed the conversations 'when am I getting gran-children' 'Hermione's always been a daughter to me, you should make it legal'" he says in a high pitched voice. They all laughed.
"Can I get out of this bubble now?" Ron asked.
"Fine, but don't touch Malfoy." Ginny warns. I'm still 'Malfoy' to them at the moment, but I hope over time I become on first name basis with Potter and Weasely.
"I won't." Ron promises. Ginny got rid of the bubble.
He stood there for a few moments before walking towards Hermione and me. My hand holding hers, tightened. What was he going to do? Hermione took a step towards him. He smiles at her, before pulling her into a hug. They stay like that for a few moments. He released her and then turns to me.
"Congratulations Ferret, she's a prized jewel." He says, eyes flashing to Hermione. I put my arm around her waist and draw her close.
"I know." I answer kissing her head. She was my prized jewel.
OoOoOo
I was on a high although the day at school the day after. The ring didn't feel foreign to me at all. It was as if I'd never not worn it. I didn't say anything to Bonnie at the start of the day I was hoping she would ask me about it.
I dismiss my class for lunch. Scorpius has settled in with the class so well. He talks, asks questions, has friends. He's such an intelligent boy. And believe me I'm not just saying that because I was going to be his step-mother. That makes me sound old, but at the same time I can't believe I am going to have a 'step-child'.
This wasn't in the plan Draco and I had. We were supposed to be married a few weeks after our 7th year at Hogwarts. Then we would wait two years or so before having children. However, I guess Voldemort rising to power wasn't part of the plan.
"Okay I'll bite, where did you get the ring? Why is it on your to ring finger? Does the ring have anything to you being so unbelievably happy?" Bonnie says marching into my room.
"Um, Draco, he proposed and Yes." I answer with a wide grin.
She screams. "Oh my god, I am so happy for you. You saved the angel." She says hugging me.
"It's so strange; the ring doesn't feel odd to me. It's like it was always on." I say, my smile getting bigger.
"How did he do it?" Bonnie asks sitting herself down on a kindergarten chair.
"We had a little fight and I took Scorpius over to a mutual friend. Draco followed is there and explained that he had been trying to propose for several weeks now, he just kept getting interrupted. He said the most beautiful things to me." I know that I must look like a cartoon character with glazed over eyes and little hearts where my pupil should be, but I don't care.
"Sweetie, have you thought about what this could mean for you and Scorpius?" Bonnie asks.
"What do you mean?" My smile falls.
"People and parents might think that Scorpius might get a unfair advantage." Bonnie explains.
"But, I would never do that. That's not fair to the other students." I say back.
"I'm sorry Hermione." Bonnie says with a sad smile.
"Can Miss. Granger please contact the office, can Miss. Granger please contact the office." The P.A. System says. I chew my lip nervously.
"You'll be fine. But, um, best of luck." Bonnie gives me a hug.
"Thank you." I say before leaving. I nervously tug at the sleeves of my cardigan.
Is this about what Bonnie mentioned? What did Emma want with me?
I knock on her door before taking a deep breath. You are in love; they can't do anything to stop you from marrying him. Emma opens the door and nods her head as an indication to come in and sit down. I do so.
"Hermione, it's come to my attention that your marital status has changed. I believe that you are now engaged to Draco Malfoy." She says finally looking at me.
"That is correct." I nervously fiddle with my engagement ring.
"You are engaged to the father of one of your students. A student who hasn't even been at this school for a term. A student who hasn't been to any other form of education." She says with a sad sigh.
"I understand how bad this looks Emma, but if you let me explain..."
"I don't have a choice in the matter, please believe me when I say this; you are fired"
A/N: Here it is chapter 12... More details on that curve ball thrown at them in the next chapter. I also bet you're all wondering about Draco's reaction. Well let's just say that he is not happy.
More soon...Hopefully...
